FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Senior forward Ashley Small scored her first two goals of the season and assisted on the game-winner in Sunday's 3-1 victory over Hartford. The senior captain tallied a career-high five points in the contest.  The win was the fifth straight victory for the Stags on Lessing Field and extended their home-unbeaten streak to 16 games, a new program record.

“It's very satisfying,” Head Coach Jim O'Brien said.  “Since day one ten years ago I made it a point to always to be dominant on the home field and we're continuing to do that.”

For the second straight game, Fairfield (3-1-0) was the first team on the board when Small took a feed from her fellow captain Michelle Kowalski in the 21st minute and went behind the defense and finished past the keeper.  The goal was the first allowed by the Hartford defense all year.

The Hawks (2-1-1) would knot the score at one when Sidney Spremullo forced a turnover in the back four and finished a 1v1 opportunity for her first goal of the season. 

The Stags had two more shots on goal in the half when Cassidy Boegel and Faith Daley's opportunities were stopped by Hartford keeper Alison Koerkenmeier.

The Stags offense came alive in the final 45-minutes firing nine shots in the frame.  Fairfield would grab the lead for good in the 54th minute when Boegel took a feed from Small and one-timed the shot into the net for her second score of the season. 

“I saw Ashley [Small] dribble into the box and I peeled away from the defender to try and get open for her,” Boegel said.  “I was wide opened and I one-timed it into the top of the net.”

It was the third straight home game where the sophomore tallied a goal.

The Hawks had a chance to tie the contest for a second time in the 67th minute off a corner kick, but reigning America East Player of the Week, Chanel Johnson's strike hit over the post giving the Hawks their last chance of the match.

With less than five minutes to play, Small returned on the scoreboard when she headed a deflection that bounced off of the Hartford keeper for the insurance goal for the Stags.

“The second goal I got was just nice to end the game so my team could finally relax,” Small said.

It was the second time in her career where Small tallied two or more goals in a game and picked up a career-best five points in the win. 

For the fourth straight game, Fairfield outshot their opponent, clipping the Hawks 16-12.  Kathleen Early tied a season-high with four saves while Koerkenmeier notched five.  Both teams finished with two corner kicks while the Stags were whistled for more fouls in the contest (12-9).

The three wins is also tied for the most in program history through a team's first four games and extends their home-unbeaten streak to a program-best 16 games.  The streak now lasts for exactly two years with the last loss coming August 31, 2012.

Fairfield will now hit the road for a season-long three games starting September 5, at Towson.  Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.